Romanian President: EU membership candidate status must be granted to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia “as soon as possible”
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday said the European Union membership candidate status must be granted “as soon as possible” to the Associated Trio countries of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Photo: www.presidency.ro
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Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday said the European Union membership candidate status must be granted “as soon as possible” to the Associated Trio countries of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
The candidate status must be granted [to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia] as soon as possible. It is a morally and economically correct solution, as well as a correct security solution. We will try to find a solution that is feasible and sustainable”, Iohannis said.
He also noted the Associated Trio countries must benefit from an “optimal framework” for carrying out the reform processes related to European integration, and from a “unitary” approach based on their own merits and the progress in the reforms.
I supported the importance of a clear political signal regarding the European Union's decision to engage with partners on an ambitious pro-European path, to be adopted at the European Council this month”, the president explained.
A number of German political parties, including the opposition CDU/CSU faction, have launched a motion supporting a “rapid granting” of European Union membership candidate status to the Associated Trio countries Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, German media reported on Tuesday.
The Senate of Ireland on Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the European Union and its institutions to grant Georgia the membership candidate status.
Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday expressed his hope Denmark would support Georgia’s European aspirations and granting the country the European Union membership candidate status.
The German Bundestag on Monday approved a resolution supporting the Associated Trio countries of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia "on their European path”, the German Embassy to Georgia said.
Sweden is “one of the most extraordinary partners” for Georgia and distinguished by its support of the country, Irakli Khutsurauli, the Ambassador of Georgia to Finland and Sweden, said on Thursday.
Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said if the opinion of the European Commission on the European Union candidacy of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia was “based on merit”, then Georgia deserved the membership candidate status.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said Georgia was ahead of Ukraine and Moldova, the fellow states with European Union membership bids, in “all parameters” of EU integration.
The European Commission on Friday recommended the European Council to grant Georgia “European prospective” before assessing how the country meets a number of conditions for receiving the European Union membership candidate status.
Georgia has been waiting for an official recognition of its European perspective for many years, and the Government is pleased that this perspective has been officially recognised by the European Commission, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Friday.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on Friday noted the “historic” event of European Union bodies granting the three countries “European perspectives” in their membership bids.
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday said his country remained “one of the most important supporters” for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, after signing a declaration on strategic partnership between the two countries with his Georgian counterpart Salome Zourabichvili in Bucharest.
Georgian president Salome Zourabishvili on Tuesday laid a wreath at the Unknown Soldier memorial in Romania’s capital Bucharest.